I was turning right in a bustling intersection, complete with a construction crew rebuilding curbs, and I feel this white hot bolt of lightning in the side of my my neck. Make my turn, clear the construction area and I reach for the spot and I just felt something small and wet on my neck. It was this wasp’s stinger and half of his guts. When I pulled into the nearest parking lot to make sure he wasn’t still in my hoodie, there he is. Stuck to the driver’s side floor mat with the tip of his abdomen missing. I flicked him onto the asphalt and dragged him 6” under my boot.

The worst part is, after a lifetime of seeming immunity to the venom from these creatures, I had a severe reaction to a sting last summer. I actually ended up in emerg getting pumped full of epinephrine because it was starting to affect my cardiovascular function. And almost instantly after that sting, instant itching over every square inch of my body. Downed a couple of Claritins and thought I was good, but 20 mins later I’m feeling like I have a person sitting on my chest. Not good.

So after this sting, I’m thinking because it’s on the neck, I’m in for it. Sure enough, itchiness starts. Downed a couple of Claritin Allergy. At my next job site I’m starting to feel a little pressure, to the point where I had my epi pen pressed to my leg. I didn’t end up wasting it. Finished up the workday in the field and at the office. The symptoms subsided, felt kinda crappy for a few hours. My whole clavicle area feels like a bruise on that side. Had a nap. And Mr. Wasp 🐝 is one cell thick in that parking lot lol.